Timer



Nov. 27,1923.' 1,475,820

. A. C. HARTMAN TIMER Filed Sept. 7. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnwntoz AL HA R T MAN Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR C. HARTMAN, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR TO OMAHA ACCESSORY COMPANY, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA, A CORPORATION OF NEBRASKA.

TIMER.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. HARTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to timers or commutators for use on internal combustion engines, and has for an object to provide an approved and eflicient timer for use particularly on Ford engines.

An object of the invention is to provide a timer which has a revolving arm with a nonrotatable contact piece in its end shaped and constructed to engage spring members for moving together pairs of contacts to close the desired circuits in proper sequence during the rotation of the arm, and to thus eliminate rollers and other such contrivances which have movement and which are subjected to continual wear not only at their contact surfaces but also at their point of support. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a timerof this character wherein the contact points are yieldingly brought together and maintained in a clean condition to prevent corrosion thereof and accumulaance and prevent closing of the circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer of this constructionwhich is adapted particularly for application to Ford engines without alteration of the standard parts thereof and with the substitution of but relatively few parts.

The invention further aims at the provision of a timer which promotes continuously better sparking in the cylinders, which will not require lubrication and which will be free of the disadvantages incident to the use of oil, such as the deterioration of the insulation and other parts and the swelling of. the parts incident tosaturation.

A further and improved object of the in vention is to provide a contact piece on the outer end of the rotary arm which will 3 tions between the points which offer resistwear indefinitely and will not get out of order or require substitution and which is so shaped and mounted as not to require turning.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention willbe more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. p

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a timer constructed according to the present invention, the timer shaft of the engine being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken through the same substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the timer as applied to the front end of the engine.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 4 and through the timer arm showing the mounting of the wiper in the outer end of the arm.

Figure 4 is a similar section taken at right angles to the showing in Figure 3 and substantially on the line of Figure Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the rotating arm.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the wiper removed from the arm, and

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of "the rotating arm with the wiper mounted therein.

Referring to the drawing 10, designates the casing of the timer which is of the usual construction and which at its inner end is substantially cylindrical while its outerend is closed and tapers to conical form and is provided at its apex with the usual depression 11 for receiving and holding the spring arm 12 whichis a part of the Ford engine structure.

In Figure 2 the casing 10 is shown as seated in the usual groove12 of the crank case 13 of the engine, and the crank case thus closes the inner side of; the casing and forms a bearing against which the casing 10 may turn. It will he noted that the groove 12 is formed concentric to the timer shaft and that the latter projects into the casing; 10. In the case of a tour cylinder eneine, the casing 10 is provided with tour bino posts 15 which project radially inw through the casiing- 10 and which are connected at their inner ends to spring arms 16 carrying contact points 17 arranged to engage and wipe o er similar contact points 18 mounted on spring tongues 19 so that the contact points may move outwardly together with one wiping across the face of? the other to retain the same clean when the spring arms 16 are forced outwardly.

The means for making the contacts ll and 18 consecutively close throughout the circular series of contacts, is a rotating 9:2 in the form of a sleeve wh ch his the timer shaft 14; of the engine and which has at one side a pair of lon,;. itudinally spaced apart cars 23 and a relatively flat tangential surface 24 lying between the ears The cars 23 are adapted to support a wiper which may be formed from a rubber composition or the like and which is of triangular shape.

The hypotenuse side of the wiper 25 is adapted to engage across the flat face 241-. of the rotary arm as shown to advai Figures 1 and 3 the ea s 2o audthc uuper o are provided with openings there adapted to register and receive a ivet or pin 26 therethrounh to perma .ently connect the wiper to the a m. The fiat i i of the wiper is adapted to enga the r surface 524 of the arm that the wiper not turn about the pin The oppo flaring outer edges of the wiper 25 pro cam surfaces 27 adapted to e eani the spring arms 16 at their outer ends o depress the arms and hold them depressed until the nose of the wiper passes beyond the sp ing arms. The free ends of the spring arms 16 are provided with inwardly bowed portions 28 adapted to receive the wiper thereagainst after the wiper has passed e e the contacts 17 and 18 and so that the rotating arm may be relatively short. The nose or apex of the wiper 25 is rounded on a role; tively large radius as shown in the drawings so as to maintain the contacts 1? and if; n closed position for an appreciable period of time during the turning of the arm The operation of the device is apparent, for when the timer shaft 14 is rotated the arm 22 is carried therewith and the wiper $25 is brought into engagement with the our s 28 of the spring arms so as to depress the spring arms toward the casing 10 and first bring the contacts 17 and 18 togethei: A s the arm 22 further advances, the swing arm 16 is further depressed and. such. action causes the contacts 17 and 18 to wipe against one another and flex the spring tongue 11). The spring touqrue l5) acts to absorb the shock or jar upon the contacts and other parts thereabou; and also insures a substantially uni form pro-sure between the contacts when they are closed.

do not wish to be res icted to the size; form, and proportions o; e various and ob io isly changes could construction hereir parting from the r l cine-only necessary that such chang t. within the scope oi? the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A timer for internal combustion engines comprisin a casing adapted to be mounted in an engine about the exposed end oi. the timer shai ti a rotary arm in the casino tor connection with said timer shaft and having spaced outstanding ears on its end and a hearing "taco lying bet cen the ears, and a wiper fitting between the ears and having; a complemental heariuqface adapted to engage said face of rotary arm for bolding the wiper from turning; between the ears, and a circular series of contacts arranged within the casino; in the path of said wiper and adapted to be consecutively closed thereby during; the rotation of. the

2. A timer for internal combustion engines COU'IPIiSid-Q a rotataljile casing a circular series of contacts arranged in pairs within the casing, a rotating; arm in the casino; adapted for connection with the timer shaft of the engine a wiper block fitted in the outer end of the arm or consecutively eue ecting said contacts to cloi the same, said wiper having}: an inner rlat cdoe and said a m having? an outer flat tare. adapted. to receive sa d i o'ithe wiper thc a eaiust For holding the iper from turn ng and roclfin durinu' rotation oi said arm.

'mer For internal combustion engines o; a casino adapted to he ountcd on an engine about the expos d end of the timer shaft a rotary arm in the c; sing for connection with said tiniersha'lt and hav ng longitudinally spaced ears in the outer end thereo'i and a Hat tangential t'ace lying between the ears. and a w per of triangular construction fittinn' between the cars with a flat side engagingsaid face for holding: the wiper from turning between the earsw and a circular series of contacts arranged within the casing in the path of said wiper and adapted to be consecutively closed thereby during; the rotation of the arm.

4-. A timer for internal comlnistionv engines comprising: a rotatable casing adapted to he placed about the timer shaft of the engine. an arm in the casing; for connection to said shaft, a triangnlar wiper mounted in the pressing the spring members together, and 10 a outer end of the arm and having outwardly contacts carried by the spring members. converging contact faces and a round nose In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my at the apex, pairs of spring members signature in presence of two witnesses.

arran ed in a circular row in the casing adaptzd to be traversed by said wiper, the ARTHUR HARTMAN' inner spring members having inwardly Witnesses:

V bowed free ends adapted to engage said ARTHUR H. STURoEs,

converging edges of the wiper for com- CLARA M.'Jnroox. 

